New South Wales Open Championships: Therese Alshammar, Leisel Jones, Belinda Hocking, Katie Goldman Swift on Day One

SYDNEY, Australia, February 11. ONE Australian record nearly fell, while four total world bests for this year were posted on the scoreboard during day one of the New South Wales Open Championships. The meet is taking place in long course meter format.

Sweden's Therese Alshammar won the women's 50 fly with a 25.88 in the finale, and made Alshammar the first under 26 seconds this year in the world. Melanie Henique had held the previous top time with a 26.33 from a meet in Nancy, France in January. Israel's Amit Ivri finished second in 26.90, while Marieke Guehrer took third in 27.01.

Leisel Jones topped the women's 100 breast with a 1:06.68 to far surpass her early world pacesetter in the event of 1:07.66 set last month at the Victorian Long Course Championships. Japan's Kanako Watanabe (1:08.48) and Miku Kanasashi (1:08.89) finished second and third.

The top two times in the world in the women's 200 back went on the scoreboard with Belinda Hocking taking down Meagan Nay, 2:07.75 to 2:08.84. Both times eclipsed the 2:09.28 set by Elizabeth Simmonds last month. Hocking, meanwhile, nearly beat Nay's Australian record of 2:07.41 from 2009. Melissa Ingram completed the podium in the finale with a 2:11.77.

Katie Goldman turned in the fastest time in the early world rankings in the women's 800 free with an 8:26.31. That time beat the 8:32.35 set by Keri-Anne Payne in Antwerp last month. Jessica Ashwood (8:32.29) and Erin Killey (8:46.35) took second and third.

Canada's Ryan Cochrane snatched the men's 400 free title in 3:50.79, just holding off Ryan Napoleon, who settled for second in 3:50.97. Robert Hurley claimed third-place honors with a 3:51.37. Canada's Stefan Hirniak claimed the men's 200 fly crown in 1:59.62, while Dan Tranter took second in 2:00.45. Japan's Takahiro Yano rounded out the top three in 2:01.50. Glenn Snyders touched first in the men's 50 breast with a 28.27, while James Stacey took second in 29.05. Joshua Palmer claimed third in 29.31.

Merindah Dingjan and Angie Bainbridge tied for the women's 100 free title with matching 55.37s, while Kelly Stubbins took third overall in 55.61. Kyle Richardson took home the men's 100 free crown in 49.51. Matt Abood placed second in 49.83, while Kenneth To earned third in 49.89. Natalie Wiegersma won the women's 400 IM in 4:40.16 with Stephanie Rice taking second in 4:41.46. Samantha Hamill wound up third in 4:42.77.

Ashley Delaney hit the wall in 25.44 to win the men's 50 back, while Dan Arnamnart took second in 25.71. Hayden Stoeckel placed third in 25.89.

In multi-disability events, Mitchell Kilduff was listed as first place in the men's 50 free with a 26.04. Meanwhile, Jacqueline Freney was listed first in the women's 50 free with a 32.45.

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